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Learner Reviews & Feedback for The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World by Universiteit Leiden

4.8
stars
426 ratings

About the Course

Did you know that Arabic was for centuries the lingua franca in an area stretching from the south of Spain to the Chinese border? Did you know that the Middle East under Muslim rule in those days was the world’s beating heart of trade, but also of science and scholarship? Did you know that Islam in its formative period was heavily influenced by existing cultures in the region, like Indian, Greek, Persian and Byzantine culture? Did you know that for many centuries after the establishment of the Muslim Empire the majority of the population remained largely Christian and Jewish? Did you know that they held a protected status in Islamic law? Did you know that this generally open-minded, curious and open society stimulated many great innovations and inventions? Did you know that European scholarship in the Renaissance leaned heavily on the texts and inventions from the Middle East which were the outcome of this sophisticated advanced society? In this course we will focus on the fascinating history of the Arabic Medieval World. We will take you on a journey through the Middle Ages starting off in eighth-century Baghdad. Along the old pilgrim trails we will go to places like Mecca, Jerusalem and Najaf. We will show you the impressive markets of places like Cairo and Samarkand. However we will not hide the dark sides of society either, by introducing you to the flourishing widespread slave trade. We will visit the Abbasid court, the Harem of the caliph, and the palace of the Mamluk Sultan. We will show you some beautiful medieval manuscripts, that live on as the silent witnesses of the impressive achievements of scientists and medical doctors of this forgotten era. All along we will present you with historiographical debates and dilemma’s. Reflecting on the way we look at and interpret history. And while taking you on this journey, we will travel back and forth in time explaining to you how events of the past affected and shaped the world as we know it today. Welcome to the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World! Enroll now and follow this course for free. --- Testimonial: Dear Prof. Sijpesteijn I am sending this email in gratitude for the Leiden University team for this course. Please thank the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs for offering it on Coursera, the Faculty of Humanities for creating the lovely course content and the excellent reading material. Rarely have I seen an MOOC that is this well-researched and thought through. This is in addition to the excellent resources provided and the creative media. I finished the course and presently doing the honors-track. If I may introduce myself, I am Radi Radi, a Palestinian-Jordanian who lives on "Shajaret Al Dur" St. in Amman, Jordan. It was quite an coincidence to learn about her here. I work as a pilot and currently we are not flying anywhere currently so I thought of finishing this course. I am a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Ryerson Univeristy, Canada and this really felt like the 100-level electives I took in that it really is a university-level course. I have bought a few books that I have read about in your course and that meant that I have something else to do in this corona-imposed hiatus. After Once aviation kicks back into gear, I hope to be flying to Amsterdam Again. When that happens, I plan on bringing you guys a gift from Amman for your efforts. Many Thanks Radi Radi...

Top reviews

KW

May 31, 2022

​I learned so much in this course. I definitelyrecommend doing the extra readings and assignments in the honors track. The extra knowledge is worth the effort. I am delighted I found this course!

EN

Aug 7, 2024

I started to listen to this course out of curiosity but I have learned so much that I have never heard elsewhere before. The videos were great, the readings were very diverse and interesting.

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76 - 100 of 137 Reviews for The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World

By C.Winkel

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Dec 25, 2018

Great and easy course with good material. Please more about topics like that!

By Matthew P

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Apr 21, 2020

An excellent course, possibly the best free online learning I've ever done!

By Victoria A M

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May 24, 2023

Excelente curso! Feliz de poder haberlo realizado. Mil gracias Coursera

By Katherine W

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Jul 10, 2020

Excellent in all respects. The podcasts were especially helpful.

By Louise G

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Jul 6, 2020

Absolutely fascinating information. Very well-structured course.

By Omar A G R * g

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Jun 20, 2020

Se demuestra el interés de aprender con un punto de vista modelo

By Erlinda S

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Jul 2, 2020

This is an awesome class. Thank you so much to the Instructors.

By Bharat S

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Jul 22, 2020

I liked the narratives and the material. Truly an eye opening.

By Andrés B

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May 17, 2020

Just great and beautiful. My congratulations to all the staff.

By Saz P

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Jul 6, 2022

Thanks for a great course. Very informative and fascinating

By Gozde G

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Feb 19, 2021

Very clear course that gave me many new insights. Thank you

By RICHARD J Y

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Sep 8, 2022

good course. Learned much. Didn't need the honors part.

By Donna B

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Aug 23, 2021

I learned a great deal with a reasonable amount of work

By Clemente, J H A

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Sep 7, 2024

Very informative and the lessons were interesting.

By Deb

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Apr 20, 2021

So Interesting i finished the course in a week.

By Zafira B

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Sep 17, 2020

Posicionamento das palavras com ampla visão

By Frank C

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Mar 1, 2024

very enriching and well presented course

By Mr. L

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Feb 4, 2021

Thank you for a fascinating experience.

By จักรพันธ์ ว

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Oct 2, 2022

Expanding your knowledge and enjoy.

By MARIA S

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Apr 18, 2023

Excellent material and walk-through

By Mohamed M

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Dec 12, 2018

It is really amazing and fruitful.

By Keyvan S

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Jan 28, 2025

Brilliant, rich, engaging.

By EG

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Jun 9, 2024

A very interesting course.

By Juliette F

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Jul 23, 2021

Excellent, I appreciate

By kukkoo k

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Apr 3, 2023

Wonderfully enriching!